Viral Infections of Humans. Epidemiology and Control.

Abstract

There has long been a need for a text on viral diseases that has a public-health orientation and emphasizes the relationships of the clinical, epidemiologic, pathophysiologic, immunologic, and control-prevention aspects. This book appears to go a long way toward filling that void. The 35 contributors include many respected epidemiologist-virologists from the United States and abroad. The 25 chapters provide adequate coverage of virology from adenoviruses through varicella-zoster.

The introductory chapters are extremely valuable contributions. The chapter on "Epidemiological Concepts and Methods" discusses such concepts as the difference between "infection" and "disease" and defines such terms as incidence; prevalence; rate; descriptive,